# UEF study of 2,546 Finnish men links animal protein to lower testosterone, plant protein to higher

- Published: 2026-11-08 21:56 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Agritech & food
- Tags: animal protein and testosterone, plant protein and testosterone, SHBG, University of Eastern Finland, cross-sectional study, dairy protein, diet and hormones
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-e4e2735d6568e120c5ab37fb_uef_study_of/

**In a cross-sectional study of men aged 42–60 in eastern Finland, differences in total testosterone were small, and the data do not show causation.**

![UEF study of 2,546 Finnish men links animal protein to lower testosterone, plant protein to higher](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/4a8ae2d07b3157cd.webp)
*scinexx*

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland report that higher animal protein intake was associated with lower blood testosterone levels, while higher plant protein intake was associated with higher levels, according to uef.fi [1]. The results were published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. The analysis covered 2,546 men aged 42–60 who live in eastern Finland [1].

Testosterone is a key male sex hormone and is important for muscles, bones and sexual function. Its levels depend on age, overweight and lifestyle, but relatively few studies have examined their link to diet, particularly protein intake [1].

## Data and method

The findings are based on the ongoing Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The men's diet was assessed with four-day food records kept between 1984 and 1989 [1]. Total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in blood samples. SHBG influences total testosterone concentrations in the blood [1].

The analyses accounted for age and body mass index, as well as several other dietary, lifestyle and health-related factors [1].

## Differences by protein source

The men were divided into four groups by protein intake. Those with the highest animal protein intake had total testosterone concentrations on average 1.2 nmol/l lower than men with the lowest intake. For plant protein the association was opposite: the highest-intake group had concentrations 1.1 nmol/l higher than the lowest-intake group [1]. Similar associations were observed for SHBG.

A more detailed analysis showed that higher dairy protein intake was associated with lower total testosterone and SHBG. Higher intake of plant protein from vegetables and sources other than cereal products was associated with higher total testosterone. Meat protein intake was associated with lower SHBG but not with total testosterone [1].

## Limitations

The differences were statistically significant but relatively small. "The study cannot establish whether these differences have implications for health," says Doctoral Researcher Miika Wynne-Ellis [1].

The study was cross-sectional, so it does not establish a causal relationship. The associations may be related to other aspects of the diet or to metabolic factors. The findings also cannot show whether different protein sources affect testosterone production or its effects in the body [1]. According to the publication's retelling, the blood values were measured once, the food records date from the 1980s, and the results concern middle-aged men from eastern Finland.

## Sources

1. [uef.fi](https://www.uef.fi/en/article/animal-and-plant-proteins-show-different-associations-with-testosterone-levels-in-men)
2. [scinexx](https://www.scinexx.de/news/medizin/tierisch-vs-pflanzlich-gibt-es-unterschiede-beim-testosteronspiegel-je-nach-eiweissquelle)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-e4e2735d6568e120c5ab37fb_uef_study_of/